Antifriction bearing



July 30, 1929. e. R. BOTT El AL 1,722,490

ANTIFRICTION BEARING Original Filed Nov. 5, 1923 fig-4. I

w 9 $1 a; 1 if g 2 Patented July 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES PA'IIE (molten R. norm, or sTAMroRn'coNNEcrIcur, AND

OEASED, LATE or MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK,

NT OFFICE,

FREDERICK E. MUELLER, DE- BY KATHERINE M. MUELLER,

EXECUTRIX, 0F MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO NORMA-HOFFMANNBEARINGS CORPORATION, OF STAMI ORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF NEWYORK.

ANTHRICTION BEARING.

Original application filed November 5, 1923, Serial No. 672,728. Dividedand 1926. Serial This invention relates to anti-friction bearings, andmore particularly to a lubrlcant packed bearing of the typeshown anddescribed in the pending appllcation for patent filed by George R. Bottand F rederick E. Mueller, on November 5, 1923, Ser1al No. 672,728, andof which this applicatlon 1s a division.

As in the said original application, it s the purpose of the inventionto provide a simple and efficient means whereby ball or roller bearingswhen assembled at the place of manufacture, may be packed w1th asuitable lubricating grease by the application .of grease holding orretaining means at one or both sides of the bearing in cooperative relation with one of the bearing race rings to retain the lubricantbetween said rings and in intimate contact with the balls or rollers andthe cage in which the latter may be mounted.

Heretofore, in the manufacture of such bearings it has been customary tofurnish to the user the inner and outer race r ngs with the cage andballs or rollers therein assembled between said rings. The purchaserinstalled these bearings and then provided separate or additional meansfor supplying lubricant thereto. Thus, lubrication of the bearings was asecondary problem depending upon the design of the housing which wasarranged to take care of the lubricant and to exclude such foreignmaterials as dirt, grit, dust, etc. which of course, seriously affectedthe efficient operation of the bearings and eventually caused such as topreclude their continued use.

The subject matter of the present apphca tion is'concerned moreparticularly with the. provision of a dust excluding and lubricantretaining means for ball bearings, which in its latter capacity will becapable of confining or retaining a relatively large body of thelubricant in proximity to the anti-friction bearing members, and whichat the same time is so formed and constructed that it may be producedfrom relatively light sheet metal without liability of a deformationthereof at tended by the possible release of the lubricant, and whichmay be easily and quickly this application filed July 1, No. 119,814.

fitted in place or applied in operative relation to the bearin ring andthe shaft.

W th the a ove and other objects in view, the nvention consists in theimproved antifriction bearing, and in the form, construction andrelative arrangement of its several parts as will be hereinafter morefully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andsubsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings, wherein several simple and practical embodiments of theinvention arellustrated, and in which similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views,-

Figure l is a fragmentary diametrical section of an anti-frictionbearing showing one iform of the present invention applied there- Fig. 2is a similar sectional view of a complete bearing with another form ofthe improvements operatively' associated therewith, and

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views similar to Fig. 1, eachillustrating another alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and for the present moreparticularly to Fig. 1 thereof, the bearing for the shaft indicated at-21 may be of any of the several standard types and as herein shownincludes an inner ring 22 fitted upon said shaft to rotate therewith andan outer concentrically related ring 23 which is adapted to be mountedor suitably supported in the opening of a housing wall or other part.These rings are provided in their opposed surfaces with the usualraceways to receive the antifriction bearing members, herein shown inthe form of balls 25 mounted for free independent rotation in a suitablecage structure 24. While a conventional closed type of ball bearing isherein shown, it will become evident as this description proceeds thatthe essential features of the invention are also applicable to open typebearings as 'well of various con structions commonly known in the art.

The lubricant retaining and dust excludmg means constituting the subjectmatter of this application may be applied to either one or both sides ofthe, bearing as indicated by Figs. 3 and 4 respectively, and in theembodiment thereof as shown in Fig. 1, the said means includes a member60 of stamped sheet metal. This member is-subjected to the pressure ofsuitable dies to provide an annular bodywall bounding a shaft receivingopening 65, and an angular annular section 61 extending laterally in onedirection from said body wall at its outer ed e and terminating in anoutwardly'turned ange 63 preferably having a rounded or convex edge forclose fitting engagement in a groove .64 provided in the inner face ofthe outer bearing ring 23 adjacent one of the side faces thereof. In theapplication of this member, the annular wall section 61 is slightlycontracted under pressure in order that the flan e 63 may be engagedwith the inner face 0 the ring 23. The member is then forced inwardlyaxially of the bearing until the edge of said flange is expansiblysnapped into the groove 64 as the Wall section 61 of said member resumesits normal position. When so applied, it will be observed that theannular body wall 60 of said member is positioned outwardly of and inspaced relation to the side face of the bearing rin and in a planeparallel therewith and toget er with the laterally extending wallsection 61 forms a retaining cup for the lubricant so that a relativelylarge quan tity of the lubricating grease may be packed into ,the spacebetween the body wall of said member and the bearing elements 25.

It will be noted that the edge of the opening 65 in the member 60 is outof contact with and spaced from the periphery of the shaft 21. In orderto effectually prevent the escape of lubricant through this space, abarrier 66 is rovided in the form of an annular plate. This plate ispositioned Within the cup-shaped member 60 and in spaced relation to thebody wall thereof and has its inner edge portion confined between theside face of the inner bearing ring 22 and a shoulder or other suitableabutment provided on the shaft 21. Thus the barrier plate will berigidly fixed or held in position and in conjunction with the member 60serves to effectually exclude dust and grit from the bearing and at thesame time prevent the escape of the lubricant outwardly through theopening 65. The flange 63 of the member 60 being expansibly urged aainst the wall of the groove 64 provides a su stantially fluid tightconnection with the outer bearing ring to prevent the escape of thelubricant at the outerside of the member 60. The laterally projectingangular section 61 of this member extending at substantiall right anglesto.

the plane of the body wal thereof being slightly contracted from itsnormal position when said member is applied supplements the resistanceof the annular body wall of said member to internal pressures andprevents .shown, wherein said member consists of a metal ring or annuluspositioned through the opening 65 of the member 60 and having at oneedge thereof a relatively narrow inwardly projecting flange 66' toengage over a circumferential shoulder on the shaft 21 and provided atits other edge with a comparatively wide outwardly projecting flange 66disposed closely adjacent to the outer face of the member 60 andoverlapping the edge of the opening 65. therein. It Wlll be evident thatthis construction also provides an effective means preventing the escapeof the lubricant and excluding the dust and dirt from the bearing.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, there is shown a member 70 similar in form tothe member 60 shown in Fig. 1, and having the laterally extendingannular wall section 71 and flange 7 2 to engage in the groove 73 of thebearing ring. In this case said member 70 serves primarily for thepurpose of protecting the bearing against the accumulation of dust andgrit thereon, and therefore the edge of the opening 65 in said member ispositioned in close proximity to the shaft 21 though out of contacttherewith.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings, in addition to the member 70 applied as inFig. 3 to one side of the bearing, there is also shown a second memberhaving the laterally projecting annular wall section 81 with theoutturned flange engaging in a second groove posed out of contact withthe periphery of the shaft 21 but in close proximity thereto.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings, there is shown the two lubricant holdingmembers ap-,

plied as above explained to opposite sides of the bearing and expansiblyheld in interlocked connection with the outer bearing ring 23 byengagement with the grooves 92 in the inner face of said ring. A pad 91of felt or other suitable material is disposed against the inner side ofthe body wall 93 of each of these members and is engaged upon theperiphery of the shaft 21 to thereby prevent the entrance of dust anddirt. An annular plate 94 in each case closely holds said pad againstthe body wall of the member 90 and in the spaces between these platesand the opposite sides of the movable parts of the bearing as indicatedat 96, the lubricating grease is packed.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the several described embodiments of theinvention will be clearly and fully understood. It will be apparent thatany one of these several constructions will provide a simple andinexpensive means for enablin the bearings to be initially packed with arelatively large quantity of grease and which likewise protects themovable parts of the bearing against wear due to the collection of dustand grit thereon. Thus, the bearing will ,b

be maintained at its maximum operating efficiency for a relatively longperiod of time.

In the foregoing description and accompanying drawings there isdescribed and shown several practical examples of the essential featuresof the invention. Nevertheless, it is possible that such features mightalso be exemplified in still other alternative structural forms andaccordingly the privilege is reserved of resorting to all suchlegitimate changes in the construction and relative arrangement of theseveral elements as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scopeof the invention as claimed.

We claim:

1. An anti-friction bearing comprising inner and outer rings andanti-friction bearing members arranged between said rings, and a barriermember substantially closing the space between said inner and outerrings at one side of the bearing, said member consisting of a stampedlate of sheet metal having a body wall provided with a shaft receivingopening and an annular marginal. section projecting laterally from oneside of said wall substantially at right angles to the plane thereof andresiliently contractable and expansible relatively to said wall, andsaid wall section and the outer bearing ring being provided withcooperating means expansibly held by said wall section in interlockedengagement to thereby sustain said member with the body wall thereofpositioned in outwardly spaced parallel relation to one side of thebearing out of contact with the inner bearing ring and with the edge ofthe opening in said body wall in clearance relation to the periphery ofthe shaft mounted in said inner bearing ring. 7

2. An anti-friction bearing comprising inner and outer rings andanti-friction bearing members arrangement between said rings, and abarrier member substantially closing the space between said inner andouter rings at one side of the bearing, said member con sisting of astamped plate of sheet metal having a body wall provided with a shaftreceiving opening and an annular marginal section projecting laterallyfrom one side of said wall substantially at right angles to the planethereof and resiliently contractable and expansible relatively to saidwall, said annular wall section having an outwardly turned flange at itsedge and said outer bearing ring being provided at its inner face withan annular groove in which said flange is expansibly held by saidannular wall section to thereby sustain said member with the body wallthereof positioned in outg wardly spaced parallel relation to one sideof the bearing out oficontact with the inner bearing ring and with theedge of the opening in said body wall in clearance relation to theperiphery of the shaft mounted in said inner earmg ring;

- 3. An anti-friction bearing comprising innor and outer rings andanti-friction bearing members arranged between said rings, and a barriermember substantially closing the space between said inner and outerrings at one side of the bearing, said member consisting of a stampedplate of sheet metal having a body wall provided with a shaft receivingopening and an annular marginal section projecting laterally from oneside of said Wall substantially at right angles to the plane thereof andresiliently contractable and expansible relatively to said wall, saidannular wall section having an outwardly turned flange at its edge andsaid outer bearing ring being provided in its inner face with an annulargroove in which said flange is expansibly held by said annular wallsection to thereby sustain said member with the body wall thereofpositioned in outwardly spaced parallel relation to one side of thebearing out of contact with the inner bearing ring andvwith the edge ofthe opening in said body wall in clearance relation to the periphery ofthe shaft mounted in said inner bearing ring, said groove beingofsubstantially semicircular form in cross-section and the edge of saidflange being rounded or convex.

4. An anti-friction bearing comprising inner and outer rings andanti-friction bearing members arranged between said rings, and a barriermember substantially closing the space between said inner and outerrings at one side of the bearing, said member consisting of a stampedplate of sheet metal having a body wall provided with a shaftreceivingopening and an annular marginal section projecting laterallyfrom one side of said wall substantially at right angles to the planethereof and resiliently contractable and expansible relatively to saidwall, said wall sec-' tion and the outer bearing ring being providedwith cooperating means expansibly held by said wall section ininterlocked engagement to thereby sustain said member with the body wallthereof positioned in outwardly spaced parallel relation to one side ofthe bearing out of contact with the inner bearing ring and with the edgeof the opening in said body wall in clearance relation to the peripheryof the shaft mounted in said inner bearing ring, and a supplementalannular barrier member disposed at the inner side of I said body wallsubstantially closing the opening therein'to revent the ingress of dirtor the egress of ubricant from the space between said first namedbarrier member and the anti-friction bearing members.

5. An anti-friction bearing comprising inner and outer rihgs andanti-friction bearing members arranged between said rings, and a barriermember substantially closing the spacebetween said inner and outerringsat one side of the bearing, said member consisting of a stamped plate.of sheet metal having a body wall provided with a shaft receivingopening and an annular marginal section projecting laterally from oneside of said wall substantially at right angles to the plane thereof andresiliently contractable and expansible relatively to said wall, saidwall section and the outer bearing ring being provided with 000 cratingmeans expansibly held by said wa 1 section in interlocked engagement tothereby sustain said member with the body wall thereof positioned inoutwardly spaced parallel relation to one side of the bearing out ofcontact with the inner bearing ring and with the edge of the opening insaid body wall in clearance relation to the periphery of the shaftmounted in said inner bearing ring, and a second barrier membercooperatively associated with said first named member and having a partsubstantially closing said opening in the latter member toprevent theingress of dirt therethrough or the egress of lubricant from the spacebetween-the first named barrier member and the anti-friction bearingmembers.

6. An anti-friction bearing comprising inner and outer rings andanti-friction bearing members arranged between said rings, and a barriermember substantially closing the space between said inner and outerrings at one side of the bearing, said member consisting of a stampedplate of sheet metal having a body wall provided with a shaft receivingopening and an annular marginalv section projecting laterally from oneside of said wall substantially at right angles to the plane thereof andresiliently contractable and expansible relatively to said wall, saidwall section and the outer bearing ring being provided with cooperatingmeans, expansibly held by said wall section in interlocked engagement tothereby sustain said member with the body wall thereof positioned inoutwardly spaced parallel relation to one side of the bearing out ofcontact with the inner bearing ring and with the edge of the opening insaid body wall in clearance relation to the periphery of the shaftmounted in said. inner bearing ring, and a second annular barrier memberhaving a part at one edge thereof adapted to be fixedly confined betweenone side of the inner bearing ring and the shaft, and said member alsohaving another part in clearance relation to the first named barriermember substantially closing the openan annular lubricant confiningplate having one of its edges secured to the inner face of the fixedbearing ring and substantially closing the space between said-rings atone side of the bearing to confine a body of lubricant therebetween, anda side plate extending in overlapping relation to the other edge of saidlubricant confining plate and in contiguous relation to the inner faceof the latter.

8. A ball or roller bearing having an inner race-ring and an outerrace-ring provided with a groove at a side of the balls or rollers, aclosure member for the space between the two race rings comprising anannular washer having a greater outside diameter than the inner diameterof the outer racering and having its outer edge positioned within saidgroove in the outer race-ring in contactual engagement so as to form asubstantially leak-proof joint therewith, said washer having an innerdiameter less than the outer diameter of the inner race-ring and havingits side outwardly cupped or dished whereby its sides will extend overthe outer side of the inner race-ring and have inner edges extending toa position in proximity to but not in contact with a shaft member uponwhich the inner race-ring is adapted to be mounted, and a second annularwasher member secured to the side of the inner race-ring and extendingoutwardly in proximity to, not in contact but to cooperate with thefirst gvasher to form therewith a lubricant cham- 9. A ball or rollerbearing having an inner race-ring and an outer race-ring provided with agroove at a side of the balls or rollers, and a closure member toprovide a lubricant chamber for the space between the two race-ringscomprising an annular washer having a greater outside diameter than theinner diameter of the outer race-ring and having its outer edgepositioned within said groove in the outer race'ring in contactualengagement so as to form a substantially leakproof joint therewith, saidwasher having an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of theinner race-ring and having its side outwardly cupped or dished wherebyits sides will extend over'the outer'side of the inner race-ring andhave inner edges extending to a position in proximity to but not incontact with a shaft lmember upon which the inner race-ring is adaptedto be mounted.

10. A ball or roller bearing having inner and outer race-rings, abarrier secured to the inner surface of the outer race-ring andextending beyond and outside of the inner race-ring without contactingtherewith and extending in proximity to the shaft-supporting the ball orroller bearing without contacting therewith; a

11. A ball or roller bearing having an inher race-ring and an outerrace-ring having an annular groove in its inner surface at a side'of theballs or rollers, a barrier formed to spring into'said annular groove inthe innet surface of the outer race-ring and pro vided with a laterallybent portion for holding a supplyof lubricant and extending beyond andOutside of the inner race-ring without contacting therewith andextending in proximity to the shaft supporting the ball or rollerbearing.

12. A grease packed bearing unit comprising inner and outer circularmembers, bear-' ing elements between said members, and an annular sideplate secured at one of its edges to one of said members for applicationto applied position therewith as a part of" the bearing unit and havingits other edge positioned in laterally spaced relation from the other ofsaid members and of a diameter less. than the external diameter of thelatter member to confine a mass of lubricant having a volume in excessof the space between the opposed faces of said members at one side ofthe bearing and in contact with said bearing elements. 13. Agreasepacked bearing unit comprising inner and outer race rings anda-plurality of bearing elements between said rings, an

of the inner race ring and out of contact therewith.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as'the invention of GEORGE R.Barr and FRED- ERICK E, MUELLER, deceased, we have signed ournameshereto;

GEORGE R. BOTT.

KATHERINE M. MUELLER,

Eazeeutria: of the Last Will and Testament of Frederick E. Mueller,Deceased.

